Pneumatic sheet-feeding apparatus.



PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

G. F. LEIGER. PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I E EA iz/gb EEEEE'EE PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

G. F. LEIGER.

PNEUMATIC SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20.1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. No. 789,744. PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

G. P. LEIGER.

PNEUMA-TIO SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 20.1904.

3 SHEETSSHBET 3.

llnrrnn STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

ATENT irmen.

GEORGE F. LEIGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO THE L. BENEDICT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC SHEET-FEEDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forniing part of Letters Patent No. 789,744, dated May 16,1905.

Application filed February 20, 1904. Serial No. 194,620.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. LEIGER, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Sheet- Feeding Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to improvements in machinery for feeding singlesheets of paper to printing oresses or other machines, such sheets beingsuccessively lifted from a pile of sheets by means ofpneumatically-operated picker-fingers, the machine being of the samegeneral type as the machines shown and described in Letters Patent No.557,279, dated March 31, 1896, No. 588,451, dated August 17, 1897, andNo. 624,228, dated May 2, 1899, heretofore granted upon my applications.

The present invention has for its objects more particularly to provideimproved means for mounting the telescopic pickers that lift the rear ofeach sheet preparatory to its being fed forward, so that the position ofsuch pickers and the angle at which they stand with relation to the pileof sheets can be adj usted quickly and easily to any one of a largenumber of positions, to provide in connection with suchpicker-supporting means improved means for supporting the devicesthrough which air is forced beneath each sheet at its rear edge as suchsheet is raised by the pneumatic pickers, and to improve generally theconstruction and operation of machinery of this class. I attain theseobjects by the means shown in the drawings and hereinafter specificallydescribed, and those things which I believe to be new will be set forthin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, a portion ofthe framework being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detail, beinga rear elevation of one of the pneumatic pickers and the devices whichcarry it,showing also the manner of mounting the device for blowing airbeneath the sheet of paper as the rear end of such sheet is raised Fig.3 is a view.

by the pneumatic picker.

taken at line 3 3 of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows.Fig. 4c is a detail, being a top view, partly in section, of the devicesshown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 5 5 of Fig. 4:.

Referring to the several figures of said drawings, 15 indicates one ofthe standards of the main frame, from the upper end of which a heavycross-bar (not shown) extends, its opposite end being suitably supportedby another standard similar in all respects to the standard 15.

17 indicates the main driving-shaft, extending across the main frame ofthe machine and supported thereby, which shaft may be driven in anysuitable manner. On this shaft 17 is secured a gear-wheel 19, whichmeshes with another gear-wheel 20, mounted on a suitable shaft 21,through the turning of which shaft 21 and through the employment ofsuitable gears a conical valve, such as shown in my Letters Patent No.734,466, dated July 21, 1903, is rotated, and thereby the desired vacuumintermittently formed and destroyed at the proper times in the variouspipes and devices, all as hereinbefore described in my said patents.

22 indicates a casing surrounding the gearwheels 19 and 20.

23 indicates a heavy rod extending across the machine and secured inforwardly-extending brackets 2 1 formed with the vertical portions ofthe main frame, one of which brackets is shown in Fig. 1.

25 indicates a rod extending back from the rod 23 and adjustably clampedto such rod 23 by means of a short sleeve 26 carried on the rod 23, therod 25 being held in such sleeve by means of a set-screw 27.

28 indicates a yoke having a head portion 29 with an openingtherethrough to adapt the yoke to fit upon a short trunnion 30, that isformed integral with and extends laterally from a collar 31, that fitsover the rear end of the rod 25, said collar being adjustably secured tosuch rod by a set-screw 32. The yoke is adj ustably secured to thetrunnion 30 by a set-screw 33.

ably secured therein.

35 indicates a block having two openings therethrough, through one ofwhich the short rod 34 passes, said block being secured in place uponsuch rod by a set-screw 36. Through the other opening inthe block passesa short air-pipe 37, upon which is mounted, so as to telescopicallyslide thereon, a pickertube 38, carrying at its lower end a cup 39 ofsuitable compressible material. The short airpipe 37 has attached at itsupper end in any suitable manner a tube 40, preferably a section offlexible tubing, which, through a suitable valve or valves, (not hereinshown, but which may be of the character described in any of my saidformer patents is put in communication intermittently with avacuumchamber, whereby a vacuum will be caused in said pipe 37 and itspicker at the proper time. As explained in my former patents, suchvacuum will be caused when the cup 3.) is resting on the sheet to beraised, and by reason of such vacuum the telescopic picker and its cupwith the sheet attached thereto will be raised at its rear end, it beingunderstood that a telescopic picker of this description is employed overeach rear corner of the pile of sheets. It is of great advantage inseparating the sheet being raised from the pile of sheets to have blownbeneath it a blast or blasts of air, and provision has heretofore beenmade for that purpose. In my present construction I preserve thatfeature, but provide means whereby the pine through which the air passesis carried in a more convenient manner than heretofore and by means thatpermit it to be readily and quickly adjusted. In this construction Iprovide a rod 41, that by means of a collar 42, to which the rod 41 isattached, allows the rod to be secured to the short vertical rod 34, therod 41 being a'ljustably affixed to said rod 34 by means of a set-screw43 passing through said collar 42. This rod 41 is curved, as is bestshown in Fig. 4, t) adapt its free end to be brought around in rear ofthe pneumatic picker.

' 44 indicates a block having an opening therethrough to adapt the blockto be secured to the rod 41, a set-screw 45 permitting such block to beadjust-ably secured to such rod inany desired position. Through the saidblock 44 is another opening at right angles to the one through which therod 41 passes, through which second opening passes a short tube 46, thatis adjustably secured in place by a setserew 47. The lower end of thistube 46 is provided with a discharge-nozzle 48, that is turned inward soas to be directed toward the pile of sheets, and by reason of theadjustability of the tube 46 upward and downward such nozzle can beproperly directed, so that a blast of air forced from the nozzle will bedirected beneath the upper sheet of the pile as such upper sheet israised by the telescopic pickers.

49 indicates a flexible tube afiording a communication between the upperend 'of the tube 46 and a suitable air-supply.

50 indicates a vacuum-chamber of any ordinary description and which maybe located beneath the machine, as indicated, or in any other convenientplace.

It is found in practice that in order to secure the best results in theway of lifting the rear end of a sheet of paper from the pile by meansof the pair of pneumatic pickers that such pickers should stand at aslight angle, as thereby wrinkling or'buckling of the paper when beinglifts-d is avoided, which of course is important in the rapid operationof the machine. vide suitable supporting means for the pneumaticpickers, which allows of such pickers being adjusted to any positionrequired, so as to properly handle different sizes and thicknesses ofpaper, and when adjusted as desired the parts can be readily locked inplace. At the same time while accomplishing this result the pneumaticaction of the pickers is in no wise disturbed, as will be readilyunderstood.

The pile of sheets of paper is indicated by 51, and such pile rests upona suitable table 52, that is very gradually moved upward automaticallyby any suitable mechanism; but as such mechanism forms no part of mypresent invention and as such devices are well known no description ofthe same is here given.

In my said former patents are given descriptions of devices for raisingthe forward end of sheets of paper and for giving them their initialforward movement, and such devices or others may be employed, inconnection with the means herein specifically described, that haverelation to the lifting of the rear ends of the sheets; but as mypresent invention is entirely distinct from any such devices that areemployed at the forward ends of the sheets 1 have not deemed itnecessary to particularly illustrate the same nor to here describe them.

Thatwhich I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with alongitudinally-movable telescopic picker and means for creating a vacuumtherein, of means for supporting said picker at any desired angle to thesheet to be lifted, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with apivoted yoke, a rod extending across said yoke, and a block pivotallysupported by said rod, of a longitudinally-movable picker supported bysaid block, and means for producing a vacuum in said picker,substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism,

By my improved construction I prothe combination with a pivoted yoke, arod extending across said yoke and a block movable longitudinally ofsaid rod and adapted to be swung laterally thereon, of alongitudinallymovable picker supported by said block, and means forproducing a vacuum in said picker, substantially as described.

4:. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with a rod,atrunnion extending therefrom, a yoke pivoted upon said trunnion,a rodcarried by the said yoke and a block secured upon said rod, of apneumatic picker supported by said block, means for permitting saidpicker to be moved laterally to stand at any desired angle with relationto the sheet to be lifted, and means for producing avacuum in saidpicker, substantially as described.

5. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with thesupporting-rod 25 having the collar 31movably secured thereon, saidcollar carrying the trunnion 30, the yoke 28 having an apertured head 29adapted to be rotatably secured on said trunnion, the rod 34 secured inthe ends of said yoke, and the block 35 movable up and down on said rod34, of a pipe 37 supported by the outer end of said block, alongitudinally-movable picker carried by said pipe, and means forproducing a vacuum in said pipe and picker, substantially as described.

6. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with alongitudinally-movable pieker and means for creating a vacuum therein,of means for supporting said picker at varying angles, and a pipethrough which air is adapted to be blown beneath the sheet raised by thepicker, said pipe being carried by and movable with saidpicker-supporting means, substantially as described.

7 In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with alongitudinally-movable picker and means for creating a vacuum therein,of means for supporting said picker at varying angles, a pipe throughwhich air is adapted to be blown beneath the sheet raised by the picker,said pipe being carried by and movable with said picker-supportingmeans, and other means for permitting an independent adjustment of saidpipe, substantially as described.

8. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with alongitudinally-movable picker and means for creating a vacuum therein,of means for supporting said picker at varying angles, a pipe throughwhich air is adapted to be blown beneath the sheet raised by the picker,said pipe being carried by and movable with said picker-supportingmeans, and other means for permitting an independent longitudinal andswinging adjustment of said pipe, substantially as described.

9. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with alongitudinally-movable picker and means for creating a vacuum therein,of means for adjustably supporting said picker at varying angles, a rodcarried by said picker-supporting means and movable therewith, a blockmovable on said rod, and a pipe movably carried by said block andadapted to have a blast of air blown through it and beneath a sheetraised by said picker, substantially as described.

10. In a pneumatic sheet-lifting mechanism, the combination with apicker adapted to engage and raise a sheet from a pile, ofa rod se curedat one of its ends, an air-pipe adjustable along said rod, and means forpermitting an independent longitudinal movement of said pipe,substantially as described.

GEORGE F. LEIGER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, HELEN M. COLLIN.

